Just last week, I flew to the thriving metropolis of Aztec, New Mexico with my MB2. For the less-geeky, that's the fixed bell model.
I heard from another student using that case for her "pre-103" 103 that they fit in the overheards on the largest planes, but unfortunately I'll probably never use one of them until I go abroad again. It definetly didn't fit in the overheard on the bug squasher or the smaller jet planes, but it fit underneath just fine. There is a major caveat here in that it cutsyour leg room down by about 1/3rd. As Josh the goat below has mentioned previously on the list, I'm not exactly a towering juggernaut, so I imagine that if I was annoyed by the further reduction of my precious leg room, those of a more normal stature would be even more cramped. Having said that, I prefer the convenience(day to day, not flying!) and sound of a fixed bell horn and knew that flying with such a horn would be a pain, so I was well aware of the sacrifice I was making. Were I planning on flying more, I might look into cutting the bell. Having said all that, don't let anyone say you can't fly with a cut bell! You can as long as you learn the bell trick to get the horn under the seats and don't mind a little less leg room. But you will mind a little less leg room. Trust me. 3 and half hours from SLC to CVG when the babies are crying, the movie is showing with no sound since you have to buy headphones, the chips are stales, the stewardess, I mean Flight attendant is being snotty. You'll mind. Chris PS SNAKES ON A PLANE --- Joshua Cheuvront <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ah, the old Stradavarius trick! I've also only had to use it once. I was > boarding a puddle jumper bound for Fort Wayne, Indiana from Detroit- one of > those dual prop planes that only seats 14. As we were boarding, there were > crew members on the tarmac taking everyone's carry-on's and tossing them > into the rear cargo bay. When I told them that I had a French horn, one of > the attendants said "Oh, don't worry! I played French Horn in sixth grade". > I was actually more frightened by the prospect of someone who "thought" > they knew about my instrument handling my horn than someone who had no clue. > I ended up convincing her that I'd flown on that particular model of plane > many times before and had never had a problem getting my Stradavarius horn > to fit (Marcus Bonna flight case MB5). Once on the plane, it turned out > that the horn fit perfectly under the seat, actually with room to spare. > > One little trick I've learned over the past few years is to choose a seat as > far to the rear of the plane as possible. With the airlines I generally fly > with, this means I get to board right after first class. This gives me my > pick of overhead bins, and gives me a chance to get my things stowed while > the attendants are busy with fussy first-classers and people trying to > upgrade at the last minute. I've used this system twice in the past several > months flying with Delta and managed to take, on board, my horn, my laptop > bag, and a rolling carry-on. Not once was I questioned, or even given a > second glance. I try to blend in with the myriad of businessmen types. > > Here's some other "tips" to not arouse suspicion: > 1. Don't pester the attendants at the gate before your flight with general > questions. If you stand nearby and listen someone else will probably ask > the question for you. > 2. Have your boarding pass ready to go. You have, or should have, at least > 1/2 an hour before your flight. If you have more than one leg to your trip, > make sure you have the right one. > 3. Try to figure out some way to look like you don't have very many things. > If you have a bunch of music/water bottles/etc. hanging off of your case > the attendants will stop you. > 4. If you check in at the airline ticket counter, sometimes the person > behind the counter will put some sort of tag on your case, even if you tell > them you intend to take it on board with you in the cabin. This tag let's > the flight attendants know that your bag should go below in cargo. It's > been a few years since I've been forced to check-in at the counter, but I > just removed the tag on the way to the gate. > 5. Be organized before you board the plane. If you have things with you > that you'll want during the flight, know where they are, and put them > somewhere you can get to them right away. Standing in the middle of the > aisle in everyone's way while you search frantically through your socks and > underwear for that new trash romance novel you brought is a great way to > attract attention (and other passengers resentment. > 6. If you manage to get a seat at the rear of the plane, you'll likely have > your pick when it comes to overhead compartments. Some of the compartments > will be full (attendant luggage/pillows/blankets). Try to find a > compartment across the isle from your seat, not above it. This way you can > keep an eye on your belongings, especially if your horn is up there, as mine > usually is. I can think of at least two times when I had to stop a burly > attendant from trying to cram a duffel bag on top of my horn. > > That's all I can think of right now. Hope this saves someone some grief! > > Josh > > ----Original Message Follows---- > From: Marc Gelfo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: The Horn List <horn@music.memphis.edu> > To: horn@music.memphis.edu > Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Airline Travel Blues > Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:38:03 +0200 > > Just for reference: I have a fixed-bell case in a Marcus Bonna case... > somehow over the last couple years I've been transporting a number of > fixed bell horns (Conn 8D in a gig bag [scary!] was also recent). > Almost always you can get a fixed-bell case satisfactorily under the > seat. But sometimes what you have to do is slide it in from the aisle > with the bell facing down (you can't just push it down under the seat > from where you are sitting). It helped me a lot once I realized I > could maneuver the horn in from the aisle. > > Flight attendants will give you smack sometimes. Most know nothing > about instruments. Tell them you have a Stradivarius horn that's very > old and fragile, and is probably worth more than any other object on > the plane. If it really doens't fit, ask them if they'll please just > let you hold it in your lap for takeoff like a book or a baby. > > I get particular glee from the Stradivarius trick... but haven't > actually had to use it more than once. > > Cheers, > Ma > _______________________________________________ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/hornpreux%40hotmail.com > > > _______________________________________________ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/tedesccj%40yahoo.com > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! 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